'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABnAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQcQAAEDAwMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABAUGEyEjMTJC0gEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAYRAAECBQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAIgIDBVFSERUkMTL/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMlvcxe5O2fcF8+48NglTrTaUhRHU4R5T6k9qnqssVJjUOoIniWmfulKid4qYA5Uzu9tAmNayDzgMiv/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Despite congratulating all the winners of the Wild Card Round, former NFL Head Coach Mike Smith had some special praise for Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners were a team that had lost two of their starting quarterbacks, with Trey Lance going out injured early and Jimmy Garoppolo late in the season.
Many would have expected the 49ers to struggle when Brock Purdy came into the side. He was their third-choice quarterback and was selected with the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Christened as "Mr. Irrelevant," Purdy has certainly shown his relevance in San Francisco this season. He has lived up to every expectation and more, not having lost a game since he took over. He guided the 49ers to the NFC West title and the overall second seed.
Playing against their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, in the Wild Card Round, Purdy was involved in four total touchdowns and did not throw a single interception.
Ex-Falcons coach Mike Smith certainly believes the hype around the 23-year-old quarterback is real. Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda's "The BallFather Podcast," he said:
"Brock Purdy continues to just win games. That's what he does. He wins games. And you have to give Coach Shanahan and his coaching staff. Kudos for what they've done because they're playing to the strengths of their team. They're not asking Brock to win the game. They're asking Brock to distribute the ball."
Coach Smith was effusive in his praise of Kyle Shanahan and how he has managed the team. He believes Shanahan has brought out the best in Brock Purdy. He also alluded to the 49ers' shrewd management that has seen them get players with the ability of Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey on the roster.
Coach Smith also reserved special praise for their defense:
"And he's doing that to his playmakers to Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey and he's playing the way the game is supposed to be played for the San Francisco 49ers that week and that's the reason they've got the long winning streak that they have going right now. 49ers are also the best defense in the NFL. There's no doubt about it right now."
How Christian McCaffrey's signing set the stage for Brock Purdy to shine
Signing Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers was an astute piece of business from the 49ers, as it has added another dimension to their run game.
That has also taken the pressure off Brock Purdy as a quarterback because he can mix and match to keep opposing defenses on their toes. Without signing McCaffrey, the Purdy story might have developed very differently.
